The Proyecto Arte Del Fuego (“Art of Fire”) project will host an international collective of established and emerging ceramic artists at Kwantlen University College in Surrey, B.C from August 4-29th, 2004. These artists will meet to make collaborative works in clay leading to an exhibition. The invited artists will offer master classes, workshops, slide lectures and community events in the ceramic arts.

Cuban Ceramic Art comes from a rich tradition that remains uninfluenced and undocumented by much of the outside world. Having limited access to ready made materials and tools, the Cuban approach is one of simplicity and spirituality. Cuban, Canadian and American artists will confront dramatic new ways of seeing and working by exploring together the advantages and pitfalls of contemporary ceramic technology

The Proyecto Arte Del Fuego (“PAF”) aims to promote peace and international co-operation through the universal language of art and overcome differences of nationality, social philosophy, age, race, and culture. Based on a coherent relationship between technology and creativity, PAF places technical expertise at the service of art, in order to provide a working environment that facilitates the creative process. Directed by the artists Antonio Lewis (Cuban) and Catherine Merrill (American), PAF was started in 2002, as an ongoing international, cultural and educational exchange project.

The Cuban-Canadian Ceramic Art Collective is directed in collaboration with PAF and the Canadian ceramic artists Alison Petty (Project Coordinator) and David Lloyd (Ceramics Instructor, Fine Arts Department, Kwantlen University College) as on–site Liaison.

Sponsors of the project include: The Merrill Family Fund, Kwantleen University College, North Vancouver Arts Council, Proyect Arte del Fuego, Fraser Valley Potters Guild and the North-West Ceramics Foundation.